Replay: Bonnabel depth, rebounding shines in hard-fought win at West Jefferson, 57-53

HARVEY – Rematches can be tricky. Just ask the Bonnabel Bruins.

The champions of District 8-5A charged through league play unbeaten including a 29-point thrashing of West Jefferson on the road just three weeks ago. Facing them in the same gym in a state playoff game proved a far greater challenge.

No. 4 seed Bonnabel pulled away in the final quarter to down No. 20 West Jeff, 57-53, in a battle of Jefferson Parish programs Tuesday night in the LHSAA Class 5A boys basketball regional round. The game aired live on Crescent City Sports.

The Bruins move on to host No. 5 seed Ponchatoula in the quarterfinals Friday night.

“We beat them last time, but they really did a great job tonight,” Bonnabel head coach Glenn Dyer said in praise of West Jeff. “But our kids perservered, and I’m really proud of them.”

Leading 29-21 after a sloppy first half, Bonnabel (26-5) appeared set to pull away for another convincing win but the host Buccaneers had other plans. West Jeff (23-11) rallied from a 41-30 hole halfway through the third quarter led by Warren Jones and Dujour Lloyd to tie the game at 41 heading to the final period. The senior-laden Bucs then took their biggest lead of the night, 45-41, to cap a 15-0 run.

Jones, the game-high scorer with 19 points, hit all three free throws after he was fouled shooting from behind the arc. Both he and Lloyd’s slashing drives and transition buckets off of steals kept West Jeff in the game until the final stages. Lloyd finished with 17.

“Their coach (Kevin Hunt) does a great job and the kids are real class acts,” Dyer noted. “It was a tough game but not a dirty game, and both teams battled until the end.”

Bonnabel is normally paced by the potent one-two punch of senior guards Rodney Munson and Donte’ Mitchell but the Bruins were fueled to victory more by underclassmen on this night.

Tyron Williams, a junior, and Theo Johnson, a sophomore, each hit three-pointers during a crucial 13-2 spurt in response to the Bucs’ rally.

Williams led the Bruins with 17 points and had a huge night on the boards as well with 13, teaming up with dominant sophomore big man Will Allen to clean the glass and affect shots in the paint. Often anchoring the back of Bonnabel’s 2-3 zone, the 6-foot-7 Allen blocked 10 shots while adding seven points all in the second half on the other end of the floor.

“A a couple of kids off the bench stepped up and did a great job,” explained Dyer. “They were able to guard man-to-man, rebound and knock down shots.”

The fact that Munson and Mitchell were held to less than half of their season average scoring output while Bonnabel managed a tough away win bodes well for the Bruins on their fourth straight trip to the 5A quarterfinals.

West Jeff will rue many missed free throws in failing to capitalize on their upset bid. After struggling to clear the defensive glass in the first half and trailing 29-21 at the break, the Bucs were better in that area in the second half while continue to make Bruins other than Munson and Mitchell beat them.

But beat them Bonnabel did, and now Dyer’s squad takes depth and playoff experience back to Kenner with their eyes on the big prize.

“We’ve got a program now, and we want to think of ourselves as one of the premier teams in the (area). The premier stuff is okay but you want to win (it all) now,” said Dyer. “Our kids set goals early to get to the final four if we can but Friday night is going to be a tough one.”

FINAL
Bonnabel 11 18 12 16 — 57
West Jeff 6 15 20 12 — 53

Bonnabel: Tyron Williams 17, Rodney Munson 13, Will Allen 7, Donte’ Mitchell 7, Jonathan Brock 6, Theo Johnson 3, Ronnie Patton 2, Torrence Bardell 2.

West Jeff: Warren Jones 19, Dajour Lloyd 17, Eric Brignac 8, Antonio Wells 6, Mykal Leblanc 2, Tony White 1.

BRACKETS:

CLASS 5A CLASS 4A CLASS 3A CLASS 2A CLASS 1A CLASS B CLASS C

DIV I DIV II DIV III DIV IV DIV V

SCHEDULE/RESULTS:

Allstate Sugar Bowl LHSAA Boys State Playoff Results/Schedule

Class 5A

Regionals

(1) Thibodaux 70, (17) Hahnville 68

(9) Natchitoches Central 66, (8) Southwood 57

(5) Ponchatoula 74, (12) LaGrange 58

(4) Bonnabel 57 (20) West Jefferson 53

(3) Walker 82, (14) Slidell 43

(6) Landry-Walker 38, (11) New Iberia 36

(7) Dutchtown 55, (10) East Ascension 47

(2) Ouachita Parish 58, (18) West Monroe 46

Quarterfinals

(9) Natchitoches Central at (1) Thibodaux

(5) Ponchatoula at (4) Bonnabel

(6) Landry-Walker at (3) Walker

(7) Dutchtown at (2) Ouachita Parish, 7 p.m. Fri.

Class 4A

Regionals

(1) Bossier 69, (16) Morgan City 43

(9) Franklin Parish 51 (25) Woodlawn-BR 48

(5) Carencro 60, (12) Huntington 53

(20) Livonia 63, (4) Woodlawn-Shreve 58

(3) Breaux Bridge 62, (14) Assumption 44

(6) Westgate 62, (22) Neville 57

(7) Plaquemine 47, (10) Salmen 45

(2) Leesville 65, (18) Northside 60

Quarterfinals

(9) Franklin Parish at (1) Bossier, 7 p.m. Fri.

(20) Livonia at (5) Carencro

(6) Westgate at (3) Breaux Bridge, 7 p.m. Fri

(7) Plaquemine at (2) Leesville

Class 3A

Regionals

(1) Sophie B. Wright 71, (16) Westlake 57

(9) Washington-Marion 56, (8) Carroll 52

(5) Abbeville 56, (12) Green Oaks 48

(4) Madison Prep 72, (13) Northwest 33

(3) Wossman 82, (14) Pine Prairie 34

(6) Lake Charles College Prep 58, (11) Madison Parish 47

(26) St. James 44, (10) Glen Oaks 36

(2) Peabody 59, (15) Patterson 38

Quarterfinals

(1) Sophie B. Wright at (9) Washington-Marion, 7 p.m. Fri.

(5) Abbeville at (4) Madison Prep, 7 p.m. Fri

(6) Lake Charles College Prep at (3) Wossman, 7 p.m. Fri.

(26) St. James at (2) Peabody, 7 p.m. Fri.

Class 2A

Regionals

(1) Rayville 122, (16) Doyle 69

(8) Welsh 67, (9) Franklin 65 (OT)

(5) Lakeview 60, (21) Capitol 53

(4) Ville Platte 81, (13) M.L. King Charter 57

(19) Amite 58, (3) Avoyelles Charter 47

(6) Lake Arthur 56, (11) Delhi Charter 41

(7) Port Allen 45, (10) Many 33

(2) Red River 68, (18) Jeanerette 29

Quarterfinals

(8) Welsh at (1) Rayville

(5) Lakeview at (4) Ville Platte

(19) Amite at (6) Lake Arthur

(7) Port Allen at (2) Red River

Class 1A

Regionals

(1) White Castle 72, (16) Montgomery 38

(9) Grand Lake at (8) KIPP-B.T. Washington, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday

(5) Lincoln Prep 86, (12) Arcadia 68

(4) Dehli 80, (13) Elton 43

(3) Jonesboro Hodge 69, (14) Plain Dealing 58

(11) East Iberville 73, (6) Tensas 60,

(7) Logansport 67, (10) Centerville 51

(2) North Central 66, (18) Homer 42

Quarterfinals

(8) KIPP-B.T. Washington or (9) Grand Lake at (1) White Castle

(5) Lincoln Prep at (4) Dehli

(11) East Iberville at (3) Jonesboro Hodge, 7 p.m. Fri.

(7) Logansport at (2) North Central

Class B

Regionals

(1) Zwolle 73, (17) Choudrant 35

(9) Hathaway 69, (8) Bell City 61

(5) Doyline 77, (12) Quitman 76

(4) Weston 41, (13) Holden 28

(3) Hicks 70, (19) Anacoco 45

(6) Clark Academy 63, (11) Glenmora 40

(7) Pitkin 78, (10) Hornbeck 77

(2) Simsboro 86, (15) Negreet 59

Quarterfinals

(9) Hathaway at (1) Zwolle, 7 p.m. Fri.

(5) Doyline at (4) Weston, 7 p.m. Fri.

(6) JS Clark Academy at (3) Hicks, 6:30 p.m. Fri.

(7) Pitkin at (2) Simsboro, 6:30 p.m. Fri.

Class C

Regionals

(1) Summerfield 69, (28) Grand Isle 28

(8) Epps 75, (9) Ebarb 72

(5) Phoenix 66, (12) Calvin 60

(4) Atlanta 49, (13) Gibsland-Coleman 43

(3) Pleasant Hill 74, (14) Kilbourne 45

(6) Saline 63, (11) Georgetown 52

(7) Singer 71, (10) Johnson Bayou 65

(2) Simpson 80, (18) Hackberry 46

Quarterfinals

(8) Epps at (1) Summerfield

(5) Phoenix at (4) Atlanta

(6) Saline at (3) Pleasant Hill

(7) Singer at (2) Simpson

Division I

Byes: (1) Scotlandville, (2) St. Augustine, (3) Holy Cross, (4) Jesuit

(8) John Curtis Christian 70, (9) Byrd 65 (OT)

(5) Catholic-BR 94, (12) Evangel Christian 39

(6) Brother Martin 49, (11) Archbishop Rummel 26

(10) Archbishop Shaw 47, (7) St. Paul’s 44

Quarterfinals

(8) John Curtis Christian at (1) Scotlandville

(5) Catholic-BR at (4) Jesuit

(6) Brother Martin at (3) Holy Cross, 7 p.m. Fri. live at CrescentCitySports.com

(10) Archbishop Shaw at (2) St. Augustine

Division II

(1) University High 85, (17) Ben Franklin 50

(9) Lee Magnet 78, (8) Archbishop Hannan 62

(5) David Thibodaux 63, (12) St. Charles Catholic 51

(4) St. Thomas More 68, (13) Thomas Jefferson 42

(3) De La Salle 39, (14) Teurlings Catholic 32

(6) Lusher Charter 44, (11) St Michael 40

(10) St. Louis Cathoilc 48, (7) E.D. White Catholic 45

(15) Parkview Baptist 46, (2) Loyola Prep 43

Quarterfinals

(9) Lee Magnet at (1) University High

(5) David Thibodaux at (4) St. Thomas More

(6) Lusher Charter at (3) De La Salle

(15) Parkview Baptist at (10) St. Louis Catholic, 7 p.m. Fri.

Division III

(8) Catholic-NI 53, (9) Notre Dame 51

(5) Holy Savior Menard 75, (12) Northlake Christian 48

(4) Riverside Academy 101, (13) The Church Academy 42

(3) Episcopal 91, (14) Ascension Episcopal 28

(6) Calvary Baptist 56, (11) St. Thomas Aquinas 46

(7) Newman 65, (10) Pope John Paul II 33

Quarterfinals

(8) Catholic-NI at (1) Dunham, 6 p.m. Fri.

(5) Holy Savior Menard at (4) Riverside Academy, 6 p.m. Fri.

(6) Calvary Baptist at (3) Episcopal

(7) Newman at (2) Country Day

Division IV

(1) Lafayette Christian 100, (16) Catholic-PC 28

(9) Ascension Catholic 57, (8) St. Martin Episcopal 51

(5) St. Mary’s 83, (12) Houma Christian 49

(4) Opelousas Catholic 91, (13) Ouachita Christian 44

(3) Hamilton Christian 69, (19) St. Frederick 33

(6) Vermilion Catholic 65, (22) St. Edmund 29

(10) Southern Lab 55, (7) St. John 36

(2) Central Catholic 87, (15) Cedar Creek 40

Quarterfinals

(1) Lafayette Christian at (9) Ascension Catholic

(5) St. Mary’s at (4) Opelousas Catholic

(6) Vermilion Catholic at (3) Hamilton Christian

(10) Southern Lab at (2) Central Catholic

Division V

(9) New Living Word 59, (8) Christ Episcopal 48

(5) Family Community 87, (12) St. Joseph’s-Plaucheville 45

(6) Episcopal School of Acadiana 65, (11) Claiborne Christian 49

(7) Family Christian 62, (10) Grace Christian 45

Quarterfinals

(9) New Living Word at(1) Jehovah-Jireh, 6 p.m. Fri.

(5) Family Community at (4) Northside Christian

(6) Episcopal School of Acadiana at (3) Runnels, 6 p.m. Thurs.

(7) Family Christian at (2) Crescent City Christian, 6 p.m. Wed.